Internal combustion engine



Filed Sept. 11, 1958 Eqgene c]. Cosfle r 4 s f m g f n V l w. a Y B an \h JNWJ iv K A 5 u T m Nv QM INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Eugene J. Costley, 2700 D St., North Bend, Oreg.

Filed Sept. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 760,410

8 (Zlaims. (Cl. 103-54) This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to an improved internal combustion engine of novel design wherein power take-off from the engine is produced by a lever mechanism so constructed and arranged that the thrust-producing parts of the mechanism throughout their operative range of movegreat move in substantially linear paths. Thus, the thrustproducing parts may be organized to move directly against the reaction forces resisting movement of the parts. This is to be compared with the ordinary crankshaft or eccentric power take-off mechanism which is driven by a reciprocating piston or the like wherein the thrust of the piston at the start and end of a power stroke is directed perpendicularly to the reaction force resisting the thrust.

In general terms, this invention contemplates a pair of opposed, spaced-apart and aligned working cylinders, each having a piston reciprocating therein with the piston of each working cylinder connected through a rod to a common pivoted lever. The lever pivots about a pivot axis oifset to one side of the axial center of the pistons and extending transversely of these axial centers. The connections of the piston rods with the lever are at points spaced a substantial distance away from the pivot axis for the lever, so that the pistons on reciprocation to and fro in their cylinders move the rods with the outer ends of the rods moving throughout their range of movement in substantially linear paths.

Power is derived from the pivoted lever by means of a power take-oft mechanism which is also actuated by means of rods or members moving throughout their range of movement in substantially linear paths. The power take-off mechanism takes the form of an hydraulic mechanism comprising, preferably, a pair of piston pumps actuated by pivoted movement of the lever. The pistons for the pumps are connected by means of piston rods to the pivoted lever, with the connections between the piston rods and the pivoted lever also being at points spaced a substantial distance from the pivot axis for the lever. Pressure fluid pumped by these piston pumps is used to drive a work mechanism, such as a hydraulically actuated centrifugal motor.

It is also contemplated that each of the working cylinders shall have a charge-forming mechanism preparing a charge for the cylinder and actuated or powered by the pivoted lever. Specifically, the charge formers may take the form of air compressors, compressing the air to be charged in the working cylinders prior to their firing. These compressors have pistons and rods, with the rods connected to the pivoted lever at points spaced from its pivot axis. The compressors may be arranged and constructed so that the piston of a compressor undergoes. a compression stroke at the time that the piston for its associated working cylinder undergoes an expansion stroke.

The result of the organization outlined above is an efiicient motor wherein the parts supplying the useful power of the motor, as" well as mechanism preparing charges for the motor, are actuated by substantially lineally moving thrust parts, without the parts moving, as with a crankshaft, past overcenter positions.

Generally, therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved type of internal combustion en- United S tates Patent O nected to and actuate a pivotable lever, and wherein' pivotal movement of the lever actuates an hydraulic power take-off mechanism and reciprocating-type charge formers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an engine wherein the hydraulic power take-off comprises at least a pair of cooperating piston pumps, one of the piston pumps undergoing a compression stroke while the other of the pumps is undergoing an expansion stroke, whereby the pumps complement each other.

These and other objects and features are attained by this invention, which is set forth in the following description, the description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an internal combustion engine constructed according to this invention, with portions thereof broken away to illustrate details, and showing a pair of opposed and spaced apart working cylinders, arranged side by side with the cylinders of a charge-forming mechanism; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing, showing work mechanism driven from pressure fluid produced by the hydraulic power take-off mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates a frame, having secured in any suitable manner and in fixed position thereon a pair of opposed and spaced apart working cylinders designated generally at '11 and 12. These cylinders each have an inner cylinder wall 13. Slidably mounted to reciprocate to and fro in each of the inner walls is the usual piston 14. Cylinder wal1s'13 of the two working cylinders are axially aligned one with the other, so that, pistons 14 ofthe cylinders move back and forth in aligned paths.

To one side of and adjacent each of the working cylinders 11, 12 is a compressor cylinder of a chargeforming mechanism. The compressor cylinders are indicated, generally at 21 and 22. Cylinders 21, 22 are also secured rigidly to frame 10 in any suitable manner. Cylinders 21, 22 have inner cylinder walls 23 which are aligned one with another, and which have slidably mounted. for reciprocation therein piston elements 26.

Surrounding the inner cylinder walls of both compressor cylinders 21, 22 of the charge-forming mechanisms and working cylinders 11 and 12, are jacket portions designated at 27 for the compressor cylinders and at 23 for the working cylinders. These jacket portions, in conjunction with the outer surfaces of the various inner cylinder walls, define annular passages for circulating a coolant such as water. The annular cooling passages of cooperating pairs. of working and compressor cylinders are interconnected by a duct 31, and suitable inlet and exhaust ducts32 are also provided.

Connecting the interior of. each compressor cylinder of a charge-forming mechanism with the interior of a working cylinder is a tube section 36. During operation of the engine, air compressed in a charge former flows into a tube section and from. thence into the interior of a working cylinder. Valve-controlled passages in the end walls of. the working and compressor cylinders are provided to control the flow of air.

Specifically, with reference to the compressor cylinders, valve-controlled passages 37 equipped with valve elements 38. are provided in. the end walls of compressor cylinders 21, 22, with the valve elements moving away from the exhaust outlet 61.

this other cylinder during a compression stroke.

passages to permit the entrance of air into the interior of the cylinders when the pistons move away from the end walls and moving over the passages to close the passages when air is compressed by the pistons moving toward the end walls. Valve-controlled passages 41 equipped with valve elements 42 regulate the flow of air from the interior of the compressor cylinders 27 into tube sections 36. Valve elements 42 move to close passages 41 when air is sucked into the compressor cylinders, and move away from the passages to accommodate the flow of air into tube sections 36 when the pistons move toward the end walls of the cylinders during a compression stroke.

With respect to the working cylinders, valve-controlled passages -44 and valve elements 45 accommodate the unidirectional flow of air from tube sections 36 into the interior of the working cylinders. Valve elements 45 move to close passages 44 when the pressures of gases within cylinders 11, 12 exceed the pressures existing in tube section 36.

A fuel line 51 having an injection head 52 delivers a fuel spray into the interior of each tube section 36. Fuel is fed into the interior of a tube section and mixed with the compressed air collected therein. The fuel-air mixture is then fed from the tube section into the end of each working cylinder. Ordinarily fuel is injected into tube section 36 just prior and during feed from the tube section into the interior of each working cylinder.

Each working cylinder is also provided with an ignition mechanism, such as plug 56 equipped with conventional points spaced apart and adapted to produce an electric are between the points on the supply of an electric current to the plug.

' Each working cylinder has wall portions defining an Each outlet leads from the interior of a cylinder to the atmosphere. Each is positioned in the cylinder so as to be opened when the piston of a cylinder reaches the end of its expansion stroke.

Each exhaust outlet communicates at its inner end with a As described hereinbelow, the pistons for the working cylinders and the charging cylinders are interconnected by a pivoted lever 71 so that as the piston of one of the working cylinders moves away from the end wall of the cylinder during an expansion stroke, the piston of the other working cylinder moves toward the end wall for Similarly, the pistons of the charge formers are interconnected so that as one moves in a compression stroke, the other moves in an expansion stroke. Considering a cooperating 'pair of working and compressor cylinders, the pistons of the cylinders are interconnected so that when the piston of the Working cylinder moves in an expansion stroke, the piston of the compressor cylinder moves in a compression stroke.

The engine is a two stroke engine. In operation, considering the left bank of cylinders in Fig. 1, piston 14 of working cylinder 11 compresses a charge of fuel and air and moves in a compression stroke until it reaches the end of its compression stroke, which is as shown in Fig. l. Piston 26 of compressor cylinder 21, on the other hand, moves during this time to the end of its expansion stroke, the position shown in Fig. 1, and sucks air into the cyiinder chamber through passages 37. Conventional timing mechanism (not shown), connected to lever 71 thereby to be actuated in timed relation to movement of the pistons, then operates to fire plug 56. The air-fuel mixture of work ng cylinder 11 then explodes, with piston 14 of the working cylinder moving from left to right in Fig. 1 in an expansion stroke. Simultaneously with movement of piston 14 from left to right in the working cylinder, piston 26 of the compressor cylinder moves from right to left to compress air into tube section 36. During this time the air-fuel mixture contained in tube section 36 is prevented from entering the working cylinder through passages 44 because of the pressure of the exploding gases in the working cylinder.

Piston 14 of the working cylinder on reaching the end of its expansion stroke opens the interior of working cylinder 11 to exhaust outlet 61, and spent gases are exhausted from within the cylinder through the outlet with an accompanying reduction of gas pressure within the cylinder. This enables a new charge of air and fuel to enter the working cylinder through passages 44, under the urging of the gas pressure in tube section 36. Piston 14 on its return then compresses this new charge of air and fuel with valve elements 45 closing passages 44. During movement of piston 14 in a compression stroke, piston 26 moves in an expansion stroke to suck in a new charge of air into cylinder 21. Thus the parts return to their original position and the cycle is ready to repeat.

The right bank of cylinders in Fig. I operate in the same manner as the bank of cylinders just described. insofar as the operating cycles of the engine is concerned, the engine is conventional and known to those skilled in the art.

Lever 71 interconnects the various pistons through piston rods, and the lever is constructed and arranged so that the outer ends of the piston rods in moving with the pistons between their limit positions move in gradual arcs curving about a pivot axis for the lever which is spaced a substantial distance from the connections of the rods with the lever. As a result, these outer ends move in substantially linear paths. Power is derived from this pivoted lever by pumping components which also are connected to the lever so that the connected ends of the components move in substantially linear paths. In this way, none of the parts producing power move over a dead center position as in the case of a rotating eccentric.

Specifically, lever 71 is pivoted to frame 10 intermediate the left and right bank of cylinders in Fig. 1 to pivot about a pivot axis indicated at 74. The pivot connection shown is made by a pin 73 and bearing 72.

Lever 71 has end mounting portions 76, 77 which oscillate between related pairs of opposed cylinders, respectively. These end portions are spaced axially a substantial distance from pivot axis 74, and thus the end portions swing in elongated arcs, which approach parallelism; Piston rods 81, 82 are provided for the pistons of working cylinders 11, 12, and these have their outer ends pivotally connected to end portion 76 at 83, 84. Similarly piston rods 86, 87 are provided for the pistons of compressor cylinders 21, 22, and these have their outer ends pivotally connected to end portion 77 at 88, 89.

The hydraulic power take-off mechanism by which power is derived from lever 71 is indicated generally at 99. The mechanism comprises a pair of piston pumps or work mechanisms till, 102, each having a cylinder portion 106 suitably secured to frame 10 and a piston 107 mounted for reciprocation within the cylinder portion. The pistons have piston rods or actuating members 108, 139 connecting the pistons to ear portions 111, 112 of lever 71, with the outer ends of the piston rods pivotally connected to the ear portions at 113, 114. The ear portions, like ends 76, 77 of the lever, are spaced a substantial distance from the lever pivot axis, so that the outer ends of rods 108, 109 also travel throughout their range of movement along substantially linear paths.

The piston pumps complement each other, with the piston of one of the pumps traveling in a compression stroke while the piston of the other pump is traveling in an expansion stroke. The piston rods for the pumps are connected to the lever on opposite sides of the lever pivot axis to balance the lever. In Fig. 1, the piston of pump 181 moves downwardly in a compression stroke when the piston of pump 1&2 moves upwardly to draw fluid into the pump cylinder in an expansion stroke.

Fluid flows into the cylinder of pump 101 through a valve-controlled inlet port 116 having valve element 117.

Valve element 117 accommodates the flow of fluid inwardly into the cylinder but prevents the flow of fluid outwardly therefrom. On the compression stroke of the piston for the pump, fluid flows from the cylinder of pump Till outwardly through valve-controlled outlet port 121 equipped with valve element 122. Valve element 122 accommodates discharge of fluid but prevents the flow of fluid in the other direction. Similarly, pump 102 has an inlet port 126 controlled by valve 127, and an outlet port i2? controlled by valve element 129.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the discharge of pressure fluid from pumps 161, 162 flows through conduit 136, where it may be used to drive any desired work motor. In the embodiment illustrated, conduit 136 is connected to a hydraulically actuated centrifugal motor 137. Fluid, after actuating motor 137, flows through conduit 133 to a reservoir 139. Conduits 14-1, 142, and 143 connect reservoir 139 with the inlet ports of pumps 101, 102.

in summary, the engine of this invention employs opposed working cylinders connected to a pivoted lever so as to pivot the lever to and fro. This lever is used to actuate the charge formers for the engine, and also to actuate a reciprocating-type, hydraulic, power take-0E mechanism. The various thrust parts in the mechanism move to and fro throughout their range of movement without moving over a dead center position, as is present in an eccentric movement. As a consequence, a more constant and less pulsating power output is possible.

it is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. in an internal combustion engine, the combination of a pair of opposed, spaced-apart working cylinders each having a piston reciprocating therein, a piston rod connected at its inner end to each of said pistons, a lever pivotable about a lever pivot axis, said pivot axis being offset to one side and extending transversely of the center axes of said Working cylinders, said lever having portions in front of the working cylinders spaced a substantial distance from said lever pivot axis and swingable in substantially linear paths that are substantially aligned with the axes of the working cylinders, means connecting said portions of the lever and the outer ends of said piston rods, and a hydraulic power take-oil mechanism deriving power from said pivoted lever, said power take-off mechanism comprising a piston pump having a reciprocating pump piston, a pump piston rod, said pump piston rod being connected at its inner end directly to the pump piston, and pivot means connecting directly the outer end of said pump piston rod to said lever for pivotal movement of the rod about an axis spaced a substantial distance from said lever pivot axis whereby pivotal movement of the lever produces substantially linear movement of said outer end.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a pair of opposed, spaced-apart Working cylinders each having a piston reciprocating therein, a piston rod connected at its inner end to each of said pistons, a lever pivotable about a lever pivot axis oifset to one side and extending transversely of the axial centers of said pistons, said lever having a mounting portion intermediate the two cylinders spaced a substantial distance from said lever pivot axis and thereby swingable in a substantially linear path between the two cylinders, means connecting the outer ends of said piston rods to said mounting portion, and a hydraulic power take-off mechanism deriving power from said pivoted lever, said power take-ofi mechanism comprising a piston, pump having a reciprocating piston and a single piston rod connecting the piston and said pivoted lever, said piston rod being connected at its inner end to the piston, the piston rod of said pump being connected at its outer end to said lever to pivot about an axis spaced a substantial distance from said lever pivot axis whereby pivotal movement of said lever produces substantially linear movement of said outer end.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a pair of opposed and spaced-apart working cylinders each having a piston reciprocating therein, a pivoted lever pivotable about a lever pivot axis oifset to one side and extending transversely of the axial centers of said pistons, said lever having a mounting portion spaced a substantial distance from said lever pivot axis and intermediate the two cyiinders thereby to be swingable in substantially a linear path between the two cylinders, a piston rod for each cylinder, each connected at one end to said mounting portion of the lever and at its other end to a piston, charge-forming mechanism for each of said cylinders including rod member powering the charge-forming mechanism, the rod member of each charge-forming mechanism being pivotally connected to said lever to pivot about an axis spaced a substantial distance from said lever pivot axis, and hydraulic power take-01f mechanism deriving power from said pivoted lever, the latter comprising a reciprocating pump having a piston and rod with the rod thereof connected to said lever to pivot about an axis spaced from said lever pivot axis.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said hydraulic power take-cit mechanism comprises a pair of reciprocating pumps each having a piston and rod, the rod portions of said piston pumps being connected to said pivoted lever at points spaced on opposite sides of said lever pivot axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said hydraulic power take-off mechanism comprises a pair of piston pumps each having a piston and rod with the rods each connected to said pivoted lever to pivot about an axis spaced from said lever pivot axis, said pair of piston pumps complementing each other with one undergoing a compression stroke during the period of time that the other is undergoing an expansion stroke, and vice versa.

6. in an internal combustion engine, the combination of a pair of opposed and spaced-apart working cylinders each having a piston reciprocating therein, a pivoted lever pivotable about a lever pivot axis oifset to one side and extending transversely of the 'axial centers of said pistons, said lever having a mounting portion spaced intermediate the cylinders a substantial distance from said lever pivot axis thereby to be swingable in a substantially linear path etween the two cylinders, a piston rod for each cylinder, each connected at one end to said mounting portion of the lever and at its other end to a piston, charge-forming mechanism comprising a piston-cylinder air compressor for compressing air for each of said working cylinders, each of said charge-forming mechanisms having a rod connected at one end to the piston thereof and connected at its other end to said lever at a point spaced from said lever pivot axis, the piston of each working cylinder undergoing a compression stroke when the piston of the air compressor for the working cylinder undergoes an expan sion stroke, and hydraulic power take-oft mechanism connected to said pivoted lever to derive power therefrom.

7. The internal combustion engine of claim 6 wherein said power take-off mechanism comprises a reciprocating piston pump having a piston and rod for the piston, and means connecting one end of the rod of the piston pump to said pivoted lever, said one end being connected to the pivoted lever at a point spaced from said lever pivot axis.

8. The internal combustion engine of claim 6 wherein said power take-off mechanism comprises a pair of reciprocating piston pumps, each having a piston and a rod for the piston, and means connecting the outer end of the rod for each piston pump to said lever at a point spaced from said lever pivot axis, said piston pumps being arranged so that one undergoes an expansion stroke during that time that the other is undergoing a compression stroke whereby said two piston pumps complement each other.

Reterences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

